Telemedicine is now part of daily life for Quebec families. But how effective is this practice? Dre Émilie Bourgeault, dermatologist at DermaGo.ca, gives us her point of view.
This innovative practice has many advantages for both parents and children: reduced risk of contracting COVID-19, significant time savings, elimination of travel costs and time spent in the waiting room, faster access to the doctor in some cases and so on.
As a dermatologist in a virtual clinic, I receive several questions about the validity, effectiveness and progress of online consultations. Here are answers that will help you have a better experience during your next virtual consultation.
1. Is a diagnosis via the Internet as reliable as a diagnosis obtained in the clinic?
Dermatology is probably the medical speci alty best suited to telemedicine. Scientific studies have repeatedly demonstrated the effectiveness of diagnosing skin problems remotely. Dermatologists are literally trained to diagnoseskin problems from visual information. It's just a matter of providing them with quality photos and answering their questions well.
2. Can all skin problems be diagnosed remotely?
Up to 98% of skin conditions can be diagnosed, usually based on visual data. Minor problems such as eczema, acne, hives, various rashes, chilblains, molluscums and warts are particularly suitable for remote diagnosis.
3. What skin problems should I go to the clinic for?
Certain conditions such as moles (nevi) must be seen in the clinic to be properly assessed. If the skin problem requires physical intervention, such as surgery, an in-person visit will be required. Likewise, if the child is feverish, abnormally tired or has other systemic symptoms (pain in the joints, headaches and others), it is best to consult in person.
4. How to prepare for a virtual consultation with a dermatologist?
As in the clinic, the dermatologist will try to find out more about the evolution of the symptoms, the treatments tried and their effects.
- Take the time to establish the precise chronology of symptoms. When did the symptoms appear? Did they get worse? How fast? How do they affect the child's daily life and yours?
- Then write down the treatmentstried to date. What medication(s) did you use? For how long? How often? What were the effects?
- Write down the questions that bother you and take advantage of the consultation with the dermatologist to find answers. Some platforms even allow you to chat with the specialist for several days.
5. How is the virtual consultation with the dermatologist?
The virtual consultation usually takes place in three stages. First, the patient completes a questionnaire where they are asked to detail their he alth record and the problem for which they wish to consult a dermatologist.
We will then take images of the skin problem to be diagnosed. The best telemedicine platforms offer simple and clear instructions on how to take photos to facilitate the analysis of the case by the specialist.
Finally, the dermatologist discusses the diagnosis with the patient and together agrees on a personalized treatment plan. This exchange takes place by telephone, videoconference or even instant messaging depending on the platform. If a prescription is required, the doctor is able to send it directly to the patient's pharmacy.
6. What should I do if I experience any side effect(s) from my medication?
Telemedicine platforms generally offer patients the services of medical personnel who will carry out urgent follow-ups in the rare case of treatment side effectsappear.
Dre Émilie Bourgeault, dermatologist at DermaGo.ca
- Campagna a, M., Naka b, F., Lu, J. Teledermatology: An updated overview of clinical applications and reimbursement policies. International Journal of Women's Dermatology 2017;3:176-179.
- Wang, Robin H., et al. Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of teledermatology: Where are we now, and what are the barriers to adoption? J Am Acad Dermatol 2020;83(1):299-307.
- Yim, Kaitlyn M., et al. Teledermatology in the United States: An Update in a Dynamic Era. Telemedicine and e-He alth 2018;24(9):691-697.
